Group Reiterates The Sanctity Of Ebonyi People's Rights

A foremost rights group in Ebonyi State, Ebonyi First Vanguard, has reiterated the sanctity of the democratic rights of the people of Ebonyi people. In a press statement issued by the group on Thursday, 11th August, 2022 which was signed by the group's Director-general, Monday Eze, and made available to news men in Abakaliki, the group frowned at what it termed, "The anti-democratic and desperate maneouvres of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi, calculated to impose his will on the people of Ebonyi State especially as it relates to the 2023 Governorship election in the State", using the instrument of Ebonyi founding fathers. The group stated that there no charter of equity existed in Ebonyi State and encouraged interested qualified Ebonyi people, irrespective of which side of Ebonyi State they hail from, to contest the 2023 Ebonyi governorship election. Pointing out that "Ebonyi people needed a qualified person to govern them in 2023 and not a village head or minion". Below is the text of the press statement:

"The attention of Ebonyi First Vanguard has been drawn to the anti-democratic and desperate maneouvres of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi, calculated to impose his will on the people of Ebonyi State especially as it relates to the 2023 Governorship election in the State.

"In his latest move, Governor Umahi wants to use the instrument of the Founding Fathers of Ebonyi State to endorse his proxy, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the 2023 Ebonyi governorship race on grounds of a non-existent zoning arrangement or charter of equity.

"Governor Umahi's so-called zoning and rotation mantra has become an ill-conceived strategy to deceive the people in order to plant his surrogate as the governor of Ebonyi State come 2023. This is true given that just on the 16th July, 2022, Governor Umahi, after pointing out the non-existence of a power rotation agreement or charter of equity in Ebonyi State, appealed to Ebonyi Founding Fathers Forum to begin to articulate a Governorship Rotation formula for study and possible adoption by Ebonyi people; an assignment which the founding fathers have not yet started.

"Ebonyi First Vanguard wishes to reiterate that there is no governorship zoning arrangement or charter of equity in Ebonyi State. The implication of this is that the 2023 governorship race is as open to all qualified Ebonyi candidates as it has always been since 1999 when the current democratic dispensation or fourth republic started. Ebonyi people deserve to be governed by the best candidate in 2023.

"Ebonyi First Vanguard therefore encourages all qualified candidates from all parts of Ebonyi State to courageously offer themselves for the 2023 Ebonyi governorship election. As a corollary, Ebonyi electorate is charged to approach the 2023 general elections with an open mind and vote according to their free will and conscience irrespective of which part of Ebonyi State their preferred governorship candidate comes from. Ebonyi State needs the best governor in 2023; not a clan head or minion.

"It may be recalled that about some weeks ago, Ebonyi First Vanguard had urged Governor Umahi to pay Ebonyi Founding Fathers the seven years arrears of their legally-approved allowances which he (Umahi) stopped in 2015. The attempt to use the release of the arrears of allowances and other inducements as baits to bend our revered elders backwards into a frivolous endorsement is condemnable and should be resisted by our founding fathers. The vanguard insists that our elders should be treated with dignity and respect by all in all circumstances.

"Ebonyi First Vanguard hereby advises Governor David Umahi to respect the democratic rights of Ebonyi people as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution which he took an oath to defend.

"Finally, Ebonyi First Vanguard assures the good people of Ebonyi State that she will not tolerate any undue interference and encumbrance on their democratic rights by any person or authority no matter how highly-placed."

Ebonyi State was created in 1996 by Gen. Sani Abachi. Investigations revealed that beginning from the first Ebonyi gubernatorial election which took place in 1999, all the six gubernatorial elections in the history of Ebonyi State were contested by candidates from the different senatorial districts of Ebonyi State. Governor Umahi of Ebonyi State recently confessed in his meeting with Ebonyi founding fathers that there was no charter of equity or power rotation agreement in Ebonyi State. The insinuation of the existence of a rotation order as regards the 2023 governorship election is therefore unfounded.